Annual Drinking Water Quality Report

Transcription

1 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report ELBURN IL Annual Water Quality Report for the period of January 1 to December 31, 2014 This report is intended to provide you with important information about your drinking water and the efforts made by the water system to provide safe drinking water. The source of drinking water used by ELBURN is Ground Water Source of Drinking Water The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pickup substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include: - Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPAs Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health. For more information regarding this report contact: Name Jerry Adrian Phone Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming. - Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses. - Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems. Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline ( ). - Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. We cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at

2 Source Water Assessment We want our valued customers to be informed about their water quality. If you would like to learn more, please feel welcome to attend any of our regularly scheduled meetings held on the first and third Mondays of every month at 7:00 p.m., at Village Hall. The source water assessment for our supply has been completed by the Illinois EPA. If you would like a copy of this information, please stop by Village Hall or call our water operator, Jerry Adrian at To view a summary version of the completed Source Water Assessments, including: Importance of Source Water; Susceptibility to Contamination Determination; and documentation/recommendation of Source Water Protection Efforts, you may access the Illinois EPA website at Based on information obtained in a Well Site Survey, published in 1989 by the Illinois EPA, twenty four potential sources or possible problem sites were located within the survey area of Elburn's wells. Furthermore, information provided by the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Section of the Illinois EPA indicated several additional sites with ongoing remediations which may be of concern. The Illinois EPA has determined that the Elburn Community Water Supply's source water is not susceptible to contamination. This determination is based on a number of criteria including: monitoring conducted at the wells; monitoring conducted at the entry point to the distribution system; and the available hydrogeologic data on the wells. Furthermore, in anticipation of the U.S. EPA's proposed Ground Water Rule, the Illinois EPA has determined that the Elburn Community Water Supply is not vulnerable to viral contamination. This determination is based upon the completed evaluation of the following criteria during the Vulnerability Waiver Process: the community's wells are properly constructed with sound integrity and proper site conditions; a hydrogeologic barrier exists which prevents pathogen movement; all potential routes and sanitary defects have been mitigated such that the source water is adequately protected; monitoring data did not indicate a history of disease outbreak; and the sanitary survey of the water supply did not indicate a viral contamination threat. Because the community's wells are constructed in a confined aquifer, which should prevent the movement of pathogens into the wells, well hydraulics were not considered to be a significant factor in the susceptibility determination. Hence, well hydraulics were not evaluated for this groundwater supply. Due to favorable monitoring history, aquifer characteristics, and inventory of potential sources of contamination, our water supply was issued a vulnerability waiver renewal. Monitoring for SOC s is now on a nine year cycle, and a six year cycle for VOC s, at wells 3 and 4. Water Quality Data Table Footnotes The State requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Some of our data, though accurate, is more than one year old. SODIUM: There is not a state or federal MCL for sodium. Monitoring is required to provide information to consumers and health officials that are concerned about sodium intake due to dietary precautions. If you are on a sodium restricted diet, you should consult a physician about the level of sodium in water. IRON: Iron is not currently regulated by the USEPA. However, the State has set an MCL for this contaminant for supplies serving a population of 1,000 or more.

3 2014 Regulated Contaminants Lead and Copper Definitions: Action Level Goal (ALG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. ALGs allow for a margin of safety. Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow. Lead and Copper Date Sampled MCLG Action Level (AL) 90th Percentile # Sites Over AL Units Violation Likely Source of Contamination Copper ppm N Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives; Corrosion of household plumbing systems. Lead ppb N Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits. Water Quality Test Results Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: Maximum residual disinfectant level goal or MRDLG: Maximum residual disinfectant level or MRDL: Definitions: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology. The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants. The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants. The following tables contain scientific terms and measures, some of which may require explanation. ppb: na: Avg: ppm: micrograms per liter or parts per billion - or one ounce in 7,350,000 gallons of water. not applicable. Regulatory compliance with some MCLs are based on running annual average of monthly samples. milligrams per liter or parts per million - or one ounce in 7,350 gallons of water.

4 Regulated Contaminants Disinfectants and Disinfection By-Products Collection Date Highest Level Range of Levels MCLG MCL Units Violation Likely Source of Contamination Chlorine MRDLG = 4 MRDL = 4 ppm N Water additive used to control microbes. Total Trihalomethanes 2014 (TThm)* No goal for the total 80 ppb N By-product of drinking water chlorination. Inorganic Contaminants Collection Date Highest Level Range of Levels MCLG MCL Units Violation Likely Source of Contamination Barium ppm N Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge from metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits. Fluoride ppm N Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive which promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories. Iron ppm N This contaminant is not currently regulated by the USEPA. However, the state regulates. Erosion of natural deposits. Manganese ppb N This contaminant is not currently regulated by the USEPA. However, the state regulates. Erosion of natural deposits. Nitrate [measured as 2014 Nitrogen] ppm N Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits. Sodium ppm N Erosion from naturally occuring deposits: Used in water softener regeneration. Zinc ppm N This contaminant is not currently regulated by the USEPA. However, the state regulates. Naturally occurring; discharge from metal

5 Radioactive Contaminants Collection Date Highest Level Range of Levels MCLG MCL Units Violation Likely Source of Contamination Combined Radium 226/ pci/l N Erosion of natural deposits. Gross alpha excluding radon and uranium pci/l N Erosion of natural deposits.

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